| Situated in the town of Warwick, County town of | | | | was executed in 1478. |
| Warwickshire, on a bend overlooking the river | | | | The castle then became property of the crown |
| Avon is Warwick Castle. It was originally built as a | | | | since George's son, Edward, was just 2 years old |
| motte-and-bailey castle in 1068 by William the | | | | when George died. Nevertheless, Edward later |
| Conqueror in order to keep his control over the | | | | made a claim to the throne and as a result was |
| Midlands. Henry de Beaumont was given the | | | | imprisoned by Edward IV. He was held in the |
| position of constable of Warwick Castle and in | | | | tower of london eventually executed by King |
| 1088 was made Earl of Warwick. | | | | Henry VII in 1499 for High Treason. This spelled |
| Rebuilding the Castle | | | | the end of the line for the title of Earl of Warwick |
| Roger de Beaumont became the second Earl of | | | | of its first creation. |
| Warwick and, in 1153, his wife was tricked into | | | | Royal Visits |
| believing that he was dead and therefore gave up | | | | Warwick Castle was repaired and renovated while |
| the castle to King Henry II (at the time known as | | | | in the care of the Crown, but fell into disrepair |
| Henry of Anjou). In a later turn of events Henry | | | | due to its age. In 1547, Warwick was granted to |
| gave Warwick Castle back to the Earls of | | | | John Dudley, with the second creation of the Earl |
| Warwick to show his gratitude for their support | | | | of Warwick title. Queen Elizabeth I visited the |
| of his mother, Empress Matilda. Sometime later in | | | | castle twice during her progresses. When |
| the 12th century, during the reign of Henry II, the | | | | Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick, died in |
| castle was demolished and rebuilt in stone, | | | | 1590 the Warwick title once again became extinct. |
| forming the basis of the castle that stands in | | | | A Magnificent Residence |
| Warwick today. | | | | In 1604 Warwick Castle was converted into a |
| In 1242 Thomas de Beaumont, 6th Earl of | | | | country house by Sir Fulke Greville who was |
| Warwick, died and the castle and title was given | | | | given the house by King James I. In 1618 the title |
| to his sister, Lady Margery. The castle remained in | | | | Earl of Warwick was created for the third time |
| the Beaumont family for several generations and | | | | and given to the Greville family. Sir Fulke Greville |
| underwent a number of changes, including the | | | | died on 1st September 1928 after being stabbed |
| addition of towers, the re-design of some | | | | by his manservant, enraged at having been left |
| residential buildings and fortification of the facade | | | | out of Greville's will. Renovation began on the |
| overlooking the town. | | | | castle by the Greville family, and in 1642 the |
| Treason and Execution | | | | castle's defences were fortified in preparation for |
| In 1449 the castle passed to the Neville family as | | | | the English Civil War. Robert Greville, 3rd Baron |
| a result of the death of Anne de Beauchamp, | | | | Brooke was a Parliamentarian. On August 7, 1642, |
| 15th Countess of Warwick. Through his wife's | | | | Warwick Castle came under seige by Royalist |
| inheritance of the title, Richard Neville became the | | | | forces which eventually ended on August 23 |
| next Earl of Warwick and in 1469 rebelled against | | | | when they retreated to Worcester. After the |
| King Edward IV, imprisoning him at the castle. | | | | Battle of Edgehill, prisoners were held at Warwick. |
| After a brief attempt at ruling in the kings name, | | | | Further improvements were made during the 18th |
| Neville was forced to release him and was killed in | | | | century and in 1759, France Greville, 8th Baron |
| the battle of Barnet in 1471. George Plantagenet, | | | | Brooke, was created Earl of Warwick, the fourth |
| Neville's son-in-law inherited the castle next but | | | | creation of the title. |